Western District proposes local rules for first time

The judges of the Western District of Virginia are inviting comments on the first-ever set of local rules proposed for federal courts in those parts.

Among other things, the proposed rules would require attorneys’ fee requests to be filed within 14 days after judgment. Judges would be authorized to impose jury costs when a case settles on the courthouse steps. Counsel would be barred from contacting jurors after a trial unless they first get court permission.

Chief Judge James Jones explains that most of the proposed local rules are codification of the existing standing orders, but some of the rules would be new for the Western District. Some of the new items are borrowed from Virginia’s Eastern District or Maryland federal courts.

The deadline for comments is Jan. 6, 2010. Comments should be directed to Clerk John Corcoran.